Bahia vs Atletico Paranaese Predictions

Thursday’s Copa Sudamericana quarter final, first leg action features an all-Brazilian affair between Bahia and Atletico PR. The hosts will be looking to make home advantage count ahead of a tricky looking return leg.

Arriving off the back of consecutive league wins, over Parana and Botafogo respectively, confidence is running high in Bahia ranks. The side had previously looked like being involved in a relegation battle until the end of the year but now 6 points clear of the drop zone with just 8 matches left to play, they can afford to give all focus towards the Sudamericana.

Far from used to competing in the latter stages of continental competition Bahia’s run so far has been a memorable one but those taking to the pitch will be desperate to try and go one step further and reach the semi-finals, having already seen off Blooming, Cerro and Botafogo to reach this point. Having lost just 2 of their last 32 home games, winning 19 times in the process, Tricolor are clearly a powerful force on their own patch and will be aiming to prove exactly that once again on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Atletico PR also arrive in great shape, having pulled clear of relegation danger in league action, currently standing 8th on the Serie A table. Like Bahia, the visitors now have attention fully focused on Sudamericana affairs, having defeated Newell’s Old Boys, Penarol and Caracas to reach this point.

Despite their improvement in recent months, there can be little doubting Atletico remain extremely weak visitors. Furacão have staggeringly won 11 straight home matches, but on the road it’s an entirely different story, with the visitors one of only 4 sides to have not won an away match in Serie A and also having lost 11 of their last 23 away games across all fronts.

Ultimately, it’s clear for all to see that both of these teams are far stronger on their own patch and as such, the pressure is on Bahia on Thursday, with opening up a substantial lead likely their only way into the semi-finals.

At current prices, backing a home win looks to provide excellent value and is exactly where our money is going. Bahia are an extremely powerful force at the Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, and having also won their last 5 Sudamericana home matches, they should have far too much for an Atletico outfit that has shown little resolve on the road in 2018 and we fancy the hosts to run out 2-0 winners.